Handle for cautery instruments



Jan. 15, 1935. w. A. ARNESEN 1,933,293

HANDLE FOR CAUTERY INSTRUMENTS Filed July 31, 1934 /5s HHHHH g lllllmA.

INVENTOR TI'ORNEY Patented Jan. 15, 1935 a. r 1,988,293- HANDLEFOR cAU'rERY INSTRUMENTS WalterA. Arnesen, New York, N. Y.' I Application July 31, 1934, Serial N0.j 73 7,724

6Claims. (Cl.200--'7) This invention relates to improvements in instrument handles and more particularly to im-.

provements in handles for cautery instruments; Heretofore handles .for cautery'instruments .5 have been made with an exposed spring contact member movable into contact with a stationary memberunder the force exerted usually by the thumb of the operator. Considerable pressure has been required to force 'the'movable contact into proper engagement with the stationary member with the result: that if the cautery instrument is'used for any appreciablelen'gth of time by the operator,- the .operator": undergoes considerable strain; I

. Anobjectof the invention is to provide a cautery handle of. such construction that the -:mov-

able contact member can be actuated with'a minimum of strain on the operator. Another object of the invention is toprovid an actuating member for-"a cautery handle so constructed as to resemble a trigger. a

A further object of the invention is to provide socket-members on a cautery handle of such construction that continued use of the sockets does not result in the sockets becoming permanently set due to loss to resiliency.

1 In achieving the objects of the-present invention, acautery handle is constructedin conventional fashion of a bar of some suitable in of a trigger-like actuating member, in 'one form of the invention consisting of' alever pivoted to the side of the handle; near the forward end thereof. This lever is provided withan'angularly extending tongue from the top thereof adapted to engagethe top of the spring contact member. The lower end of the lever is twisted at right angles and curved-to fit the finger of an operator; In another form of the'invention the contactmemberis in the nature of a lever pivoted ina vertical slot near the end of the handle and having an upstanding portion fittingin a slot in the contact member. the lever isshaped in the same .fashion asmen- The lower end of tioned in the first embodiment; .Movementxof; the lever by pressureexertedlby a'xfingervof .the. operator causes the upstanding "part. thereof: to bear against the end of the .slot in the contact member forcing it I downwardly into icircuit cl'os-" ing engagement.

In further iachievingianobject of the inven' tion, the socket members "for the icautery itipsi aremade ofisome suitable metalwith an'attaching portion in the shape substantially of round disks .from'which extend; substantially tangentially; rod-like portions hollowed out. for there-*2 eeption-of theterminal's of the cautery itipsli (In? order that these tips m'aytbe"heldafirmlyg the disk-like parts of the-sockets1 are slotted and a part of the rod extensions ar'also "slottedpxiThe disk-like "parts" are mounted on a central shaft and are'for'ced together by means ofa screw threaded onto the shaft; In order that'the sock-" ets may not became permanently set as there sult of continuedcompression, the disk-lke parts thereof are provided with "-apertures through which extends a'rod 'of insulating-material A small washer is secured'arou'ndthe' rod in 'each slot'in the respective sockets. Thiswashe'r prevents squeezing together of part or: the socketsbut does not prevent such-pressure application as causes locking of the-cautery tips inthe sock- Other objects, features;- and advantages-of the invention will become-apparent froin'theiollow ing detailed description-taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawing wherein Fig. 1 is a side elevation 'of"a-handle' embody ing the invention. I f f Fig". 2 is an enlarged section taken substan-f tia'lly onthe' line 2-2 of Figi' l'; f

Fig. 3- is a view partially inlsectionof a modifi fication'of the invention; and

, Fig. 4i's a plan view of the device -shownih Referring now tothe drawing and particularly to Figs. 1 and 2, IOin'dicates a handle proper of the device, such handle beingqin the nature ofa' long rectangular'bar of molded'insulating inaterial, preferably' some phenol condensation product This member 10 is hollowed out-for the reception'o-f conductors A. The end of one' conductor is secured to a terminal and support ing member in the end of a metallic-"strip 11 having an enlarged roundhead -Thef'strip 2 11 is held to the meir'iberlO by means of a screw;

, minal member 17 positioned on top of the member 10 and secured to this member by means of a pair of screws 18. The end of the terminal member a is provided with a bent-down tongue 19, the purpose of which will be explained later. As will be seen from the drawing, the contact member 1'7 is bowed upwardlyand due to the resiliency thereof this member normally 'is'in the position shown in heavy linesinjig. 1.

' The socket members for cautery tips comprises disk-like members and 21 'which haveextending substantially tangentially therefrom rod-like portions 22 and 23. These rod-like portions arehollowed out. for. the reception of the prong-like terminals 24 of. the usual cautery tip. The hollowed :out portions extend rearwardly through the peripheries of the disks 20 and 21, such hollowed openings being indicated. at 25 and 26. The disk portions 21 are slotted as indicated at 27 and'28,.and the slots formed by removing part of the metal continue approximately half .waythelength of the rods :22 and I The two sockets.20 and 21v are providedwith central aperturesfor the reception of a sleeve 30 of some suitable insulating material, the sleeve 30 being in the nature of a tube of internal diameter to permit it to fit around the bolt 15. The

sockets are. assembled on the sleeve 30 together witha disk of insulatingmaterial 31, and a thick washer 32 of some suitable metal. This washer 32 as shown is positioned against ,the side of the 40 socket 21 and thedisk 31 is positioned between the washer 32 and the socket 20. In'order that the sockets maybemaintained in parallelism at all times, the lower parts of the sockets, the washer and the insulating disk31 are provided with holes which can be aligned and1held in alignment by means of a short rod ;35 of some suitable insulating material: v Y H Mountedon the rod 35 are a pair; of washers 36 and 37 positioned respectivelyin the slots 2'7 and 28. These washers maybe of any suitable metal and are of such thickness as to substantially fill that portion of the SlOtSf in which they are located.

The sockets when assembled are mounted on the bolt 15' and are held in place :by means of a nut 38 which can be manually turned and which is internally threaded so that as itis rotated about the boltit approaches or withdrawsfrom the socket assembly. A disk 39 of insulating material is interposed between the screw:38 and the socket member 2. When the parts are in;

theflposition shown in Fig.- 2, rounded terminal members of cautery tips may be inserted in the openings or holes 25 and 26, and when so insertedcan be locked against withdrawal and at 'the desired angle by tightening the nut 38 against the disk 39 and consequently squeezing thesooket members 20 and 21- together between the disk 39 and the head 12. The washers 3 6 and 37 situated in the slots 27 and 28 prevent the lowermost portions of the disks 20 and 21 from being compressed materially but do not prevent theupperparts from being compressed;

and consequently do not interfere with the locking of the cautery tips in place. Were these invention.

.From the foregoing it will be seen, that the 1,9ss,a9s

'tion of a headed bolt 15. A look washer 16 is It will be seen thatone of the conductors A. is in electrical connection with the socket 20 through the strip 11 and head 12. The other socket 21 however is insulated completely from the socket 20 by means of the disk 31 ,the sleeve 30, and thedisk 39.=

To complete a the circuit for energizing a -cautery tip it is necessary that the spring contact 17 be depresseduntil the tongue 19 engages the washer 32 whibhis in good electric connection with the socket 21. To facilitate depression of the contact 17 use is made of an actuating member indicated. generally at 40 in the nature V of a lever made of flat metal having an intermediate portion pivoted to the side of the member 10 by means of a headed bolt 41'threaded into a suitable aperture in the member. 10; If

portion 44 provided with a right-angular tongue 45 overlying the'contact member 17. The lower extremity of thelever. 40 is'twistedinto a rightangular finger receiving part 46.v

In the use of the handle as just described, th operator places a cautery tip with the terminals thereof in. the sockets 20 and 21' and locks the tip in the desired position with the tip extending at whatever angle necessary from the axis ofthe handlemember. 10.. When it is desired to'energize the cautery tip, Itheoperator simply draws the portion 46 ofthe lever 40 from full line position of Fig. 1 to dotted'line position usually, by moving it from one position to another with one finger, generally his forefinger. This movement .of course causes movement of the tongue 45 from full line position to dottedline position (Fig. 1), depressing the spring contact 17 until'the tongue 19, bears against the periphery of washer 32. In this position a complete electric circuitis made through the electrodeof the cauteryv tip. The circuit can be maintained aslong as desired with a. minimum of strain'on the hand of the operator, since very little pressure is required through the lever or trigger to hold the contact 17 in dotted line position. In actual practice it has been found that an operator may hold the 'contactin circuit closing position by aid of the trigger considerably longer than could be possible by pressing'the contact. down with his thumb. 1

*In the modification shown in Figs. 3 and 4 the end of the member 50 is provided with a vertical slot in which. is pivotally mounted'a central portion of a lever or trigger indicated generally at 56. Asuitable bolt or screw 5'7 serves as a shaft about which the lever or trigger 56 may move. This member is made of. flat metal as before and has an upstandingtongue part 58 passing'through a slot 59 in the contact member. 17'. The lower portion of the trigger 56, is twisted to form a finger receiving part 60similar to member 46. As'the trigger is rotated about its axis by a finger of the operator, the tongue 58engages the forward end of the slot 59 and forces the spring contact 17' downwardly until the tongue 19' thereof makes contact with a washer 32 as in the previous modification of the present invention provides a handle for cautery instruments of such construction that an operator may use the instrument without strain for a longer period of time than possible with the instruments heretofore made. This extended length of time is made possible by the minimizing of strain upon the hand of the operator in holdingthe contact member in circuit closing position. Since the current necessary for energizing the cautery tip is of relatively high amperage, the contact must be relatively heavy and consequently the direct pressure necessary to depress this contact member is of a considerable value. Due to the high amperage current employed, considerable heat is generated in the contact member and consequently it has been found advantageous to have this contact member mounted exteriorly of the handle so that the heat can be dissipated as rapidly as possible. The generated heat soon becomes uncomfortable to the thumb of an operator when the contact is moved to circuit closing position by thumb pressure even though a button of insulating material is secured to the contact for engagement by the operators thumb. However, the leverage permits a reduction in the pressure necessary to move the contact into circuit closing position when such pressure is applied to the portion 46 or the portion 60 of the trigger. The trigger contact operating member also prevents the generated heat from becoming uncomfortable to the user due to the remoteness of the finger receiver part of the trigger from the contact. The provision also of spacer washers in the slots in'the socket members prevents these socket members from acquiring a permanent set, thereby greatly lengthening the life of the apparatus.

It will be understood that the invention is capable of modification over the illustrated embodiments, in view of which it is not to be limited to the arrangements shown in the drawing but is to be limited only by the scope of the following claims.

I claim:

1. A handle of the type described comprising a bar of insulating material, cautery tip sockets secured to one end thereof, a fixed terminal member secured to said bar in electrical connection with one socket, a spring contact terminal secured to the top of said bar and movable into electrical connection with the other socket, and

a contact actuating member pivotally secured to said bar and. having a portion engaging said spring contact terminal and having another portion extending below said bar and shaped to fit a finger of an operator.

2. A handle of the type described comprising a bar of insulating material, cautery tip sockets secured to one end thereof, a fixed terminal member secured to said bar in electrical connection with one socket, a leaf spring contact terminal secured to the top of said bar and flexed so that the outer end thereof extends upwardly from said bar, the outer end of said contact being provided with a down-turned tongue, said spring contact being movable into electrical connection with the other socket, and a contact actuating member pivotally secured to a side of said bar, said actuating member having an upstanding portion provided with an angular tongue overlying said spring contact member, said actuating member having a depending portion shaped to fit a finger of an operator.

3. A handle of the type described comprising a bar of insulating material, cautery tip sockets secured to one end thereof, a fixed terminal member secured to said bar in electrical connection with one socket, a leaf spring contact terminal secured to the top of said bar and flexed so that the outer end thereof extends upwardlv from said bar, said spring contact terminal being movable into electrical connection with the other socket, and a trigger-like actuating member of flat metal pivotally secured to a side of said bar,

tion with one socket, a leaf spring contact terminal secured to the top of said bar and being provided with a slot therein near the outer end thereof, said spring terminal being flexed so that the outer end thereof extends upwardly from said bar, said spring contact terminal being movable into electrical connection with the other socket, and an actuating member comprising a trigger-like lever pivotally secured to said bar and having an upstanding portion fitting 'in a slot in said spring contact and having a depending portion twisted into shape to fit a finger 0 an operator. 7

5. A handle of the type described comprising a bar'of insulating material, cautery tip sockets secured to one end thereof, a fixed terminal member secured to said bar in electrical connection with one socket, a leaf spring contact terminal secured to the top of said bar and being provided with a slot therein near the outer end thereof, said leaf spring contact terminal being flexed so that the outer end thereof extends upwardly from said bar, said contact member being movable into electrical connection with the other socket, and an actuating member for moving said contact member comprising a trigger-like lever pivoted in a slot near the end of said bar, said lever having an upstanding portion fittingin the slot in said contact member and having a depending portion twisted into shape to fit a finger of an operator.

6. A handle of the type described comprising a bar of insulating material, a socket supporting member secured to the end of said bar, cautery tip sockets mounted on said supporting member, each socket being composedof a disk-like member having a hollow rod extending substantially tangentially therefrom, said disk-like member being slotted and said hollow bar being partially slotted, a washer positioned in the slot of each disk-like member substantially opposite to said hollow bars, means carried on said sup-x porting member for applying pressure to said sockets, a terminal member on said handle in electrical connection with one of said sockets, a spring contact member secured to the top of said bar and movable into electrical connection with the other of said sockets, and a triggerlike lever pivotally secured to said bar and hav-' ing a portion engaging said spring contact member for moving it into electrical conne'ctionwith the second socket.

WALTER A. ARNESEN. 

